How to Hook Up a Water Filter to an Ice Maker

Every refrigerator ice maker needs a water filter to work correctly.

A totally functioning refrigerator, including the ice maker, can be a nice perk in a when it comes to selling your home. It may just be the difference between a sale or a no-sale. Anyone plug in a refrigerator, but the tricky part of refrigerator installation is the ice maker. They are fed by a separate water line that needs to be hooked into a water filter to work correctly. Although each brand of ice maker has own specific directions for installation, they are all routed and attached in roughly the same way.

1

Locate a suitable water supply. Some ice maker models require an unused faucet, like that from a laundry tub. Others may need a copper cold water pipe as a source. If you have doubts about which you need, installation kits are available at your nearest appliance dealer for your brand of refrigerator.

2

Plot a path for the water supply line. If you plan on hooking up to a copper pipe beneath the sink, drill a 1/2-inch hole in an inconspicuous place in a cabinet, using a drill and a 1/2-inch drill bit. Feed the supply line through the hole. When you plan on running the line into the basement, follow the water feed pipes on sinks that lead downstairs. In many cases, you can feed a supply line down the same hole right next to the faucet feed line.

3

Attach the water supply line to the refrigerator. At the bottom rear, there may be a removable access panel that can be attached with screws, if applicable. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws. Pull off the panel and locate the ice maker supply line valve.

4

Attach the hose to the valve. In some cases you need a compression-nut and a ferrule that first slides over the water supply line. When that is the case, insert a brass reinforcer into the end of the supply line after the nut and ferrule are in place. Finger thread the nut onto the valve then tighten the nut using two wrenches. One that holds the valve so that it doesn't turn, and one that turns the actual compression-nut. Tighten firmly. Another type of attachment is a barbed hose coupler. This type protrudes from the valve. To attach the feed line, first, slide a hose clamp over the line then push the feed line over the barbs on the coupler. Once the feed line is firmly in place, position the hose clamp over the barbed coupler where the water feed line is attached and tighten the hose clamp with a screwdriver.

5

Locate an area for the water filter. Some are large and need to be mounted to a wall stud or a floor joist. Some can be rested on the floor and some tuck away behind a pipe or mounted under a sink. Run the water supply line to the water filter.

6

Cut the supply line with a utility knife. The cut needs to be straight across the supply line but does not have to be perfect.

7

Attach the ice maker side of the supply line to the outlet side of the filter. "Outlet" should be marked on the filter. In some cases you must first put a compression-nut and a ferrule over the line while inserting a brass reinforcer into the line. Tighten the connection firmly. Some filters allow you to literally press the supply line inside of the filter, and then the supply line is held in place by a built-in clamp.

8

Attach the supply line that leads to the water source into the filter side marked "Inlet."

9

Attach the water supply line to the water source. Depending upon what model water supply line you have, the connection will either be a faucet-type screw on connector, or it will be a compression-nut saddle valve. Attach the water feed line to the saddle valve with compression fittings and brass reinforcer. The saddle valve is then bolted onto a copper water pipe and a central sharpened stem is turned into the pipe. This action makes a watertight piercing of the pipe and feeds the ice maker in the refrigerator.

Things You Will Need

Drill with 1/2-inch drill bit

Water hose

Screwdriver

Wrenches

Ferrule

Hose clamp, if applicable

Brass reinforcer

Water faucet or water pipe

Utility knife

Saddle valve or water faucet attachment nut

Compression fittings

Tip

Always turn off your main water supply before you begin water filter installation.

About the Author

Dale Yalanovsky has been writing professionally since 1978. He has been published in "Woman's Day," "New Home Journal" and on many do-it-yourself websites. He specializes in do-it-yourself projects, household and auto maintenance and property management. Yalanovsky also writes a bimonthly column that provides home improvement advice.